Keeping Vancouver’s Chinatown clean: Volunteers picking up trash call on everyone to do their part
Posted May 14, 2023 1:17 pm.
Last Updated May 14, 2023 1:23 pm.
Cleanup crews were in Vancouver’s Chinatown neigbourhood on Saturday picking up litter around the historic area to help attract more visitors.
Volunteers with the Chinese Community Policing Centre (CCPC) and the Vancouver International Volunteer Association patrolled the streets for garbage left out on the streets.
Sophie Bennett says she spent the afternoon picking up after litter bugs and found a variety of trash.
“I would say cigarette butts are the most common — put your cigarette butts in the garbage,” she said.
The program manager from the CCPC says it’s important that everyone does their part in helping keep the neighbourhood clean.
“It can be a welcoming place for anyone to come by and visit, and most importantly, for those who work and reside here. We want this to be good space for all those participants,” Kitty Lo said.
“We really want to support our community because our Community Policing Centre is in the Chinatown area. We want to be there to support the local businesses and the people who reside in this area and to help keep it clean.”
The clean-up comes after Friday’s announcement from B.C.’s Premier David Eby of a $2.2 million grant for the neighbourhood.
“This is for revitalizing storefronts, around historic neon signs, Chinese Cultural Centre. The situation in the Downtown Eastside can’t continue. I find it unacceptable that the neighbourhood got to this state. The level of desperation of people’s addiction and mental health issues — it will not continue,” Eby said.
Read more: Vancouver’s Chinatown receives more funding, but is that the answer?
The money is slated to be spent on neon lights and added safety measures which was the goal of the funding announcement and Saturday’s clean-up – to help revitalize the neighborhood and bring back tourists.
“We are hoping through these initiatives we are able to clean up Chinatown and we are supporting this by providing our volunteers and our help,” Lo said.
